The Dopamine Transporter Gene (DAT1) in Obesity and Binge Eating Disorders

Wight, Karen; Reid-Westoby, Caroline; Davis, Caroline

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-92271-3_168

Karen Wight^4,5,
Caroline Reid-Westoby &
Caroline Davis

222 Accesses

Abstract

Reward-based motivations to eat seem to overpower homeostatic drives in some individuals. Binge eating represents an extreme phenotype of hedonic overeating, is a significant risk factor for substantial weight gain over time, and a defining symptom of both binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa. Experts believe the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine on the brain’s “common reward pathway” is primarily accountable for hedonic motivations for food intake. The genetically determined action and availability of dopamine on this pathway appear to determine individual variations in the tendency to overeat and vulnerability to binge eating disorders and obesity. Some experts speculate dysfunctional dopamine availability predisposes individuals to binge eating based on the Reward Deficiency Syndrome theory of addictive behaviors; whereas, contrasting views propose an elevated dopamine signal also places individuals at risk for binge eating due to a stronger appetitive motivation and response to food cues and eating. Dopamine availability is polygenic and determined by several factors, one of which is the density of dopamine transporter (DAT) – which regulates the strength and duration of the dopamine signal by transporting it back into the presynaptic neuron. The gene encoding the DAT protein has been of particular interest in studies on addictions and eating behavior, as it contains a functional VNTR polymorphism. Variations of the DAT gene (DAT1) VNTR are associated with differences in DAT-binding site density, and therefore, levels of dopamine availability. This chapter reviews the literature on the role of the DAT1 in obesity and binge eating disorders.

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Abbreviations

AD(H)D:: Attention deficit/(hyperactivity) disorder
BED:: Binge eating disorder
BMI:: Body mass index
DAT:: Dopamine transporter
DAT1:: Dopamine transporter gene
DSM-IV-TR:: Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition
RDS:: Reward deficiency syndrome
UTR:: Untranslated region
VNTR:: Variable number tandem repeat

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Authors and Affiliations

Faculty of Health, York University, 223 Bethune College, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Canada
Karen Wight
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Karen Wight

Authors

Karen Wight
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Caroline Reid-Westoby
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Caroline Davis
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Correspondence to Karen Wight .

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Dept. Nutrition & Dietetics, King's College, Stamford St. 150, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
Victor R. Preedy
Arizona Health Science Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Room 4335, Tucson, 85724-5155, Arizona, USA
Ronald Ross Watson
University of the West of Scotland, Ayr Campus, Ayr, KA8 0SR, United Kingdom
Colin R. Martin

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Wight, K., Reid-Westoby, C., Davis, C. (2011). The Dopamine Transporter Gene (DAT1) in Obesity and Binge Eating Disorders. In: Preedy, V., Watson, R., Martin, C. (eds) Handbook of Behavior, Food and Nutrition. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92271-3_168

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92271-3_168
Published: 31 January 2011
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-92270-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-92271-3
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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